All SLA Programs

In-person Lunch & Learn

Today, we are living in a world where disagreement reigns and people are divided. A chasm is widening between us and them, where everyone picks a side and tries to win at the expense of others. Why is this happening? Too many leaders are taking the low road with others. They do what serves themselves best. They take from others without giving anything back. This workshop will guide you how to avoid the low and middle roads and take the high road in your leadership.

1. Recognize and affirm the value of all people
2. Learn how to develop humble appreciation for yourself
3. Discover how to strengthen your emotional leadership capacity

About Our Facilitator

Casey Ash is a leadership development trainer with 12 years of experience leading team and personal development workshops. She is a Maxwell Leadership Certified Team member and Certified Working Genius Facilitator who uses workshops to help people and teams discover their gifts and reach their potential. She also holds a Juris Doctor from the University of Dayton School of Law and a Bachelor of Science in Business from Indiana University. Personal development has been life-changing for her, and she is passionate about sharing this with others.

Read a book. Lead with inspiration.

SLA in partnership with Muncie Public Library is offering a unique quarterly gathering, highlighting important take-aways from inspirational leadership books. At each event, facilitators will share key leadership development lessons from leadership-focused books. This is not a book club, rather a guided discussion around the key takeaways from each book.

Prior reading of the book is not required but we encourage participants to share about what they learned and check-out one of the books from Muncie Public Library. All participants attending will be entered in a raffle to win a digital copy of one of the books discussed.

All sessions are FREE and open to the public thanks to our sponsor, eKeeper. Registration is required.

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Managing a nonprofit’s mission means managing its money — but nonprofit accounting isn’t just business accounting with different vocabulary. It requires a unique understanding of fund restrictions, program allocations, compliance, and how to tell your financial story to donors, boards, and funders alike.

This 90-minute session will demystify the fundamentals of nonprofit accounting, helping you better understand the structure of nonprofit financial statements, how to track restricted vs. unrestricted funds, and what financial metrics really matter. Whether you’re new to financial oversight or seeking a better grasp of the numbers you report each month, this session will equip you with tools and insights to manage your mission with greater confidence and clarity.

Led by Dr. Ben Angelo, Assistant Professor of Accounting at Ball State University, this interactive session will blend clear explanation, hands-on examples, and practical tools designed for executive directors, board members, and emerging nonprofit leaders alike.

Learning Objectives:

Participants will be able to:

1. Interpret key nonprofit financial statements (Statement of Financial Position, Statement of Activities, etc.) and understand what they reveal about organizational health.
2. Differentiate between restricted and unrestricted funds, and understand the importance of fund accounting in day-to-day operations and reporting.
3. Apply core budgeting and tracking practices that align with nonprofit compliance, grant requirements, and board expectations.
4. Identify the key financial indicators (e.g., liquidity, revenue mix, overhead ratio) that matter most to funders and boards.
5. Ask better financial questions — as a leader, board member, or partner — to strengthen fiscal transparency and strategy.

Cost: $25

Facilitator:

Ben Angelo, assistant professor of accounting, earned his undergraduate and doctoral degrees from Purdue University. Ben has a unique and diverse professional background. Ben has worked as an auditor specializing in non-profits, he has worked in the treasury department at Purdue University, he has worked as a managerial accountant in the Office of the Provost at Purdue University, and he has performed tax and consulting work in his own practice.

Ben teaches government and non-profit accounting. Ben has previously taught managerial accounting at Purdue University, where he repeatedly won the “Distinguished Teaching” award. Ben incorporates his professional experience into the classroom to provide relevant and practical examples to students.

Ben’s research interests include academic and educational research. Ben is interested in how companies use voluntary disclosures to shape the market’s perception of firm performance. Ben is also interested in writing academic cases that engage students and provide the analytical skills they will need in order to be successful.

In-Person 3 Hour NATURE WORKSHOP

Learning Objectives

1. 1.  Reconnect with the wisdom of the natural world to gain perspective on the patterns of change and resilience in your own life, work, and relationships.
   2.  Practice holding the tension between current challenges and future possibilities, developing a “grounded optimism” that is both realistic and hopeful.
   3. Explore the season of life you are in and how the seasons of nature provide perspective on navigating cycles of change.
   4. Craft a personal set of practices, routines, and actions that can help you maintain a grounded, resilient path regardless of season.

Cost: Free for SLA Members. $250 non-member. $200 nonprofits. Note: This is an outdoor workshop that will take place at Munsee Woods and will require participants to stand/walk during the workshop.

Individuals who are either unemployed or connected with an employer who is unable to pay can request scholarships for any of our programs.

In partnership with:

About Our Facilitator

Adam Bouse is the founder of Optimistic Coaching, where he helps people move from feeling stuck to finding new possibilities. He draws on more than 15 years of leadership experience and 1,000+ hours of coaching to guide clients in navigating change and living a more grounded, fulfilling life. With a philosophy rooted in positive psychology, neuroscience, and nature-based experiences, Adam believes everyone deserves the chance to thrive and discover the clarity, connection, and fulfillment they’ve been longing for.

Session Description:
In today’s mental health-aware workplace, leaders are called to embody both empathy and clarity—leading with heart and backbone. This 90-minute session offers practical tools and reflective dialogue to help leaders navigate the tension between compassion and accountability. Participants will explore how to set boundaries without losing connection, respond to emotional challenges with integrity, and foster a culture of psychological safety while maintaining clarity of expectations. Through vignettes, guided exercises, and peer exchange, leaders will leave with renewed confidence to lead with both courage and care.

Learning Objectives:
By the end of this session, participants will be able to:

1. Identify key principles of compassionate accountability and understand how they apply to leadership in emotionally complex environments.
2. Practice communication strategies that balance empathy with clarity when setting expectations, giving feedback, or navigating difficult conversations.
3. Develop a personalized leadership approach that supports mental health awareness while maintaining team performance and psychological safety.

Cost: $25

Facilitator:

Dr. Beth Trammell is a licensed psychologist, author, speaker and advocate for growth promotion. In addition to her clinical psychology practice, Dr. Trammell also serves as Professor of Psychology at Indiana University East as well as the university’s Director of the Master of Mental Health counseling program. She specializes in communication and behavioral strategies related to connection, parenting, coaching and education. Dr. Trammell’s years of clinical and practical experience perpetually influence the specialized trainings she leads throughout the country. Rooted on the premise of ‘Make Words Matter’, Dr. Trammell blends the science of psychology with our contemporary culture to illuminate everyday bias while sharing better ways of communicating for authentic and productive interpersonal connections.

This panel will bring together local leaders from business and government who have experience supporting nonprofits—and who are willing to share candid insights on what works (and what doesn’t) when it comes to sponsorship requests.

This session will explore

1. What makes a nonprofit’s sponsorship request compelling
2. How you evaluate potential partners
3. Common mistakes to avoid
4. What nonprofits can do to move beyond transactional asks and into sustained collaboration

Cost: $25

Panelists:

Stephen Brand, Delaware County Commissioner

Kelli Huth, Associate Vice President for Community Engagement at Ball State University

Will Isaacs, Wealth Strategies

Rob Keisling, External Affairs Manager for Indiana Michigan Power

Dan Ridenour, Mayor of the City of Muncie